10 of the best sculpture parks in Europe

Picturesque and thought-provoking, art and the natural landscape combine beautifully at these city, coastal and countryside parks according to The Guardian newspaper.

6 min read

Austrian Sculpture Park, Graz

The Austrian Sculpture Park sits in a seven-hectare park designed by renowned Swiss architect Dieter Kienast, on the outskirts of Graz. It’s home to more than 60 sculptures by Austrian and international artists such as Fritz Wotruba, Franz West and Yoko Ono. Lotus ponds, landscaped lawns and a lush forest form a background to the contemporary sculptures. Some pieces look like toys dropped from a giant’s pram: a huge pink ball, a concrete boat, aeroplane parts. Bookings for guided tours and workshops can be made on the website.Free entrance. Open daily March-October, 10am-8pm

Kröller-Müller Museum, Arnhem, Netherlands

Best known for its Van Gogh collection, the Kröller-Müller Museum is in the Hog Veluwe national park near Arnhem. Its sculpture garden is one of the largest in Europe, with more than 160 sculptures in 25 hectares of landscaped hills and valleys. The collection includes work from the 19th century to the present, from artists including Barbara Hepworth, Aristide Maillol, Jean Dubuffet and Marta Pan. Two restored pavilions, by Gerrit Rietveld and Aldo van Eyck, house some of the collection.Admission to Hoge Veluwe national park, adult €9.15, child €4.60, museum entry adult €18.30, 6-12 years €9.15. Open Tuesday-Sunday 10am-4.30pm

Vigeland Park, Oslo

Vigeland Park is the world’s largest sculpture park dedicated to the work of a single artist – prominent Norwegian sculptor Gustav Vigeland, who headed the design and architectural layout of the park himself. It was completed between 1939 and 1949, with around 200 sculptures, mostly human figures in granite, bronze and wrought iron. These are grouped in five themed sections along an 850-metre axis. Sinnataggen, a large sculpture of a furious toddler mid-tantrum, is the park’s best-known attraction. There’s a cafe and a museum within the park, where the original plaster cast models for the statues are displayed.Adult £5,40, concessions £2.70. Open Tues-Sun noon-4pm (10am-5pm in summer)

Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, Copenhagen

On the North Zealand coast, 25 miles north of Copenhagen, the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art has landscaped lawns and stunning views of Öresund Sound. Founded in 1958, it was intended to be a hub for modern Danish art but branched out to include the work of well-known international artists. A semi-circle of buildings among the trees encloses the garden, with more than 60 sculptures. The Louisiana shop stocks a range of products representing the best of Scandinavian design.Adult £13, under-18s free. Open Tue-Fri 11am-10pm, Sat-Sun 11am-6pm

Lough Boora Discovery Park, County Offaly, Ireland

A peat bog in Ireland’s Midlands may seem an unusual setting for a sculpture park but Lough Boora, which once supplied over a million tonnes of peat every year, is now a sanctuary for wildlife and home to 24 land sculptures, inspired by the area’s industrial heritage. Pick up a brochure at the visitor centre for details on the more iconic artworks before setting off on the two-mile sculpture trail, one of five themed routes around the park.Free entrance. Open year round

Middelheim Museum, Antwerp, Belgium

Established in 1950 as an exhibition, Middelheim became a permanent fixture and is now one of the world’s largest outdoor sculpture collections – and still growing. More than 250 works are to be found around the 30-hectare grounds, from Rodin to present-day artists, including Turner prize winner Richard Deacon – who has 10 works on display this summer (until 24 September). It’s a beautiful place to wander; or if you’re visiting at the right time, join one of the free monthly guided tours.Free. Open daily, from 10am, all year round

Domaine du Muy, Provence, France

In a beautiful valley near St Tropez, this new trail traces a route via 40 works of art. It was opened in 2015 by Jean-Gabriel Mitterrand – nephew of the former French president and a gallery owner in Paris’s Marais district for more than 30 years – and is one of several sculpture parks in the area, including Chateau La Coste, Commanderie de Peyrassol and Foundation Venet.The park is open until mid October and admission is free, though potential visitors must register prior to their trip.

Skulptur Pilane, Gothenburg, Sweden

A giant white marble head stands atop a rocky plateau. With its eyes closed it looks particularly serene and who wouldn’t be in the ancient, rugged landscape of Tjörn island, an hour north of Gothenburg. Contemporary works by international artists punctuate the stone circles and grazing sheep. This is not a manicured park with trails to stick to – some works involve a bit of a climb, so bring sturdy boots.Adults £7. Open daily, 9am-7pm, June to September

Skulpturenpark-Waldfrieden, Wuppertal, Germany

Established by the British sculptor Tony Cragg who bought the villa and land in 2006, this park features three dozen sculptures set among its leafy grounds. Concerts and lectures are also held regularly at the park. Guided tours run every Saturday at 3pm and cost an additional €4 on top of the admission price. The park is 40 minutes north of Cologne, which has its own sculpture park: Skulpturenpark Köln.Adults €10, students €6. Open March to October from 10am-7pm, and November to February 10am-5pm

Chianti Sculpture Park, Italy

In a magical woodland setting, the Chianti Sculpture Park has a thought-provoking collection of work that bridges the gap between art and nature, organic forms and manmade objects. Founded in 2004 and covering 17 acres of land rich with oak and ilex trees, the park features works such as Jeff Saward’s The Labyrinth, a spiralling green-glass maze, and Benbow Bullock’s towering stainless steel columns Homage to Brancusi, both of which play with the dappled light of the forest. During summer concerts are held in the park’s amphitheatre, while the adjacent gallery, La Fornace, is home to an impressive collection of contemporary sculpture from around the world.Adults €10, children €5. Open all year round but visitors are advised to call ahead of their visit between November to March.

This article was originally published by Arenike Adebajo for The Guardian newspaper on 5 September 2016.

BACK TO TOP

Your shopping cart

Your cart is currently empty

Buying from Artworks

Artworks makes it easy and helpful to buy art. We offer art that is authentic, use experts to package and deliver, insure the work in every part, and if you are not happy with your investment we arrange for an easy return. Full terms & conditions here.